Death in High Heels

Last updated
Death in High Heels
Death in High Heels film Opening titles (1947).jpg
Opening titles
Directed byLionel Tomlinson
Based on Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand
Produced byHenry Halsted
Starring Don Stannard
Elsa Tee
Veronica Rose
CinematographyStanley Clinton
Production
company
Marylebone-Hammer Productions
Distributed by Exclusive Films
Release date
  • July 18, 1947 (1947-07-18)
Running time
48 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Death in High Heels is a 1947 British second feature ('B') [1] crime film directed by Lionel Tomlinson (credited as "Tommy Tomlinson") and starring Don Stannard, Elsa Tee and Veronica Rose. [2] [3] It was based on the 1941 novel of the same title by Christianna Brand. It was a very early Hammer Films (here Marylebone-Hammer) production and was released through Exclusive Films, Hammer's original incarnation.

Contents

Plot

The police are called in when a woman is murdered at a luxury Bond Street shop.

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The acting of most of the cast is stilted and the only three who seem at all happy in their parts are Don Stannard as the handsome Charlesworth, Leslie Spurling as his assistant, and Bill Hodge as an effeminate dress designer. There is an overabundance of dialogue and, for a murder mystery the film lacks suspense." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Its plot contains ingenuity and its de luxe dress shop atmosphere is not without glamour, and between the two it manages to triumph over a slightly amateurish script." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", calling it an "unconvincing thriller that hardly does justice to the author's original novel." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Flanagan Boy</i> 1953 film by Reginald Le Borg

The Flanagan Boy is a 1953 British film noir directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was made by Hammer Film Productions and stars Barbara Payton, Tony Wright, Frederick Valk and Sid James. It was based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Max Catto.

<i>Follow That Horse!</i> 1960 British film by Alan Bromly

Follow That Horse! is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Alan Bromly and starring David Tomlinson, Cecil Parker, Richard Wattis, Mary Peach and Dora Bryan. The screenplay was by Alfred Shaughnessy and William Douglas-Home based on the 1954 novel Photo Finish by Howard Mason.

<i>Stranger in Town</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by George Pollock

Stranger in Town is a 1957 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by George Pollock and starring Alex Nicol and Anne Paige. The screenplay was by Edward Dryhurst and Norman Hudis, based on the 1954 novel The Uninivited by Frank Chittenden.

<i>Dangerous Cargo</i> 1954 British film by John Harlow

Dangerous Cargo is a 1954 British second feature crime film directed by John Harlow starring Jack Watling, Susan Stephen and Karel Stepanek. The film was produced by Stanley Haynes for ACT Films. Daily Express crime reporter Percy Hoskins provided the story.

<i>The Girl in the Picture</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by Don Chaffey

The Girl in the Picture is a 1957 British second feature crime film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Donald Houston and Patrick Holt. It was written by Paul Ryder.

<i>Dancing with Crime</i> 1947 British film by John Paddy Carstairs

Dancing with Crime is a 1947 British film noir film directed by John Paddy Carstairs, starring Richard Attenborough, Barry K. Barnes and Sheila Sim. A man hunts down the killer of his lifelong friend.

<i>Cover Girl Killer</i> 1959 British film by Terry Bishop

Cover Girl Killer is a 1959 black and white British 'B' thriller film written and directed by Terry Bishop and starring Harry H. Corbett, Felicity Young, Victor Brooks and Spencer Teakle.

<i>Its in the Bag</i> (1944 film) 1944 film by Herbert Mason

It's in the Bag is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Herbert Mason and starring Elsie Waters, Doris Waters and Ernest Butcher. It was produced and distributed by Butcher's Film Service. Gert and Daisy try to recover a valuable lost dress.

<i>The Blue Peter</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Wolf Rilla

The Blue Peter is a 1955 British film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Kieron Moore and Greta Gynt. It was written by Don Sharp and John Pudney. It was released in the United States in December 1957. The film is about youth seamanship at the original Outward Bound in Aberdyfi, Wales, a program similar to Sea Scouting or Sea Cadets.

Five Days is a 1954 British second feature ('B') film noir directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Dane Clark, Paul Carpenter and Thea Gregory. It was written by Paul Tabori and produced by Anthony Hinds for Hammer Film Productions. It was released in the United States by Lippert Pictures.

<i>Operation Murder</i> 1957 British film by Ernest Morris

Operation Murder is a 1957 British 'B' crime film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Tom Conway, Patrick Holt and Sandra Dorne. It was written by Brian Clemens and produced by the Danzinger brothers.

<i>Rock You Sinners</i> 1957 British film by Denis Kavanagh

Rock You Sinners is a 1957 British second feature black and white musical film directed by Denis Kavanagh and featuring early British rock and roll artistes, including Art Baxter and His Rock 'n' Roll Sinners, known for their song "Rock You Sinners".

<i>The Diamond</i> (film) 1954 British film by Montgomery Tully

The Diamond is a 1954 British film noir crime film directed by Montgomery Tully, and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Margaret Sheridan and Philip Friend. It is based on the 1952 novel Rich Is the Treasure by Maurice Procter. It was released by United Artists in Britain and in America, where it was known as The Diamond Wizard.

<i>The Scarlet Web</i> 1954 British film by Charles Saunders

The Scarlet Web is a 1954 British second feature crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Griffith Jones, Hazel Court and Zena Marshall. It was written by Doreen Montgomery.

<i>Death Over My Shoulder</i> 1958 British film by Arthur Crabtree

Death Over My Shoulder is a 1958 British 'B' crime film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Keefe Brasselle, Bonar Colleano and Jill Adams. It was written by Norman Hudis based on a story by Alyce Canfield.

<i>Johnny on the Spot</i> 1954 British film by Maclean Rogers

Johnny on the Spot is a 1954 British 'B' crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Elspet Gray and Paul Carpenter. It was written by Rogers based on the 1953 novel Paid in Full by Michael Cronin.

<i>Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard</i> 1939 British film

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a 1939 British comedy-drama film directed by Fred Elles starring Mary Clare in her only title role and Nigel Patrick in his film debut. It is based on the Mrs Pym novels by Nigel Morland, and written by Morland, who re-used the title for a 1946 book.

<i>Death in High Heels</i> (novel) 1941 novel

Death in High Heels is a 1941 crime novel by the British author Christianna Brand. Her debut novel, it featured Inspector Charlesworth, a young detective with Scotland Yard, who is called in when a young woman is murdered at an upmarket dress shop in London's Bond Street.

<i>Ill Turn to You</i> 1946 film

I'll Turn to You is a 1946 British drama film directed by Geoffrey Faithfull and starring Terry Randall, Don Stannard and Harry Welchman. A returning serviceman faces problems with his wife and his job. Although not a musical, the film has a lengthy concert segment at the end that allows the title song to wrap up the narrative.

<i>Girdle of Gold</i> 1952 British film by Montgomery Tully

Girdle of Gold is a 1952 British second feature comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Esmond Knight, Maudie Edwards and Meredith Edwards. It was written by Jack Dawe.

References

  1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 73. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. "Death in High Heels". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. BFI | Film & TV Database | DEATH IN HIGH HEELS (1947)
  4. "Death in High Heels" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 14 (157): 77. 1 January 1947 via ProQuest.
  5. "Death in High Heels" . Kine Weekly . 364 (2092): 26. 5 June 1947 via ProQuest.
  6. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 203. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.